What is Electricity?

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Nucleus is made up of protons and neutrons, and the number of protons and neutrons are
balanced. Neutrons have no electric charge, protons have positive charges (+) and electrons
have negative charges (-). A positive charge of proton equals a negative charge of electron.

Electrons are bound in their orbit by attraction of protons, but electrons in the outer band can
become free of their orbit by some external forces. These are referred to as free electrons,
which move from one atom to the next, electron flows are produced. These are the basis of
electricity. Materials that allow many electrons to move freely are called conductors and
materials that allow few free electrons to move are called insulators.
All matters are made up of atoms that have electric charges. Therefore, they have electric
charges. For the matter that has a balanced the number of protons and electrons, positive
charge force and negative charge force are balanced. It is called neutral state of an atom. (The
number of protons and electrons remains equal.)

"Static electricity" represents a situation that all things are made up of electric charges. For
example, the rubbing of material against another can cause the static electricity. Free electrons
of one material move forcefully till they are freed of their orbits around nucleus and move to
another. Electrons of one material decrease, it presents positive charges. At the same time,
electrons of another increase, it has negative charges.

In general, charge producing of the matter means the matter has electric charges. It has positive
and negative charges, which is expressed in coulomb.

Current, Voltage and Resistance

What is Current?
An electrical phenomenon is caused by
flow of free electrons from one atom to
another. The characteristics of current
electricity are opposite to those of static
electricity.

Wires are made up of conductors such as

copper or aluminum. Atoms of metal are
made up of free electrons, which freely
move from one atom to the next. If an
electron is added in wire, a free electron
is attracted to a proton to be neutral.
Forcing electrons out of their orbits can
cause a lack of electrons. Electrons,
which continuously move in wire, are
called Electric Current.

For solid conductors, electric current refers to

directional negative-to-positive electrons from one
atom to the next. Liquid conductors and gas
conductors, electric current refers to electrons and
protons flow in the opposite direction.

Current is flow of electrons, but current and electron

flow in the opposite direction. Current flows from
positive to negative and electron flows from
negative to positive.

Current is determined by the number of electrons passing through a cross-section of a

conductor in one second. Current is measured in amperes, which is abbreviated "amps". The
symbol for amps is a letter "A".

A current of one amp means that current pass through a cross-section of two conductors, which
are placed in parallel 1 meter apart with 2x10-7 Newton per meter force occur in each
conductor. It can also mean charges of one coulomb (or 6.24x1018 electrons) passing through a
cross-section of a conductor in one second.

What is voltage?
Electric current is flow of electrons in a
conductor. The force required to make
current flow through a conductor is called
voltage and potential is the other term of
voltage. For example, the first element
has more positive charges, so it has higher
potential. On the other hand, the second
element has charges that are more
negative so it has lower potential. The
difference between two points is called
potential difference.

Electromotive force means the force

which makes current continuously flows
through a conductor. This force can be
generated from power generator, battery,
flashlight battery and fuel cell, etc.

Volt, abbreviated "V", is the unit of

measurement used interchangeably for
voltage, potential, and electromotive
force. One volt means a force which
makes current of one amp move through a
resistance of one ohm.
What is resistance?
Electrons move through a conductor when electric current flows. All materials impede flow of
electric current to some extent. This characteristic is called resistance. Resistance increases
with an increase of length or decrease of cross-section of a material.

The unit of measurement for resistance is ohms and its symbol is the Greek letter omega (Ω).
The resistance of one ohm means a conductor allows a current of one amp to flow with a
voltage of one volt.

All materials are difference in allowing electrons flow. Materials that allow many electrons to
flow freely are called conductors such as copper, silver, aluminium, hydrochloric solution,
sulphuric acid and saltwater. In contrast, materials which allow few electrons to flow are called
insulators such as plastic, rubber, glass and dry paper. Another type of materials,
semiconductors have characteristics of both conductors and insulators. They allow electrons
to move while being able to control flow of electrons and examples are carbon, silicon and
germanium, etc.

The resistance of conductor depends on two main factors as the followings:

1. Types of material
2. Temperature of material

How to measure current

The instrument used to measure current is called ampere meter or ammeter.

• Steps for current measurement Connect a small light bulb to a dry
cell. Measure current that passes through light bulb by connecting
positive terminal (+) of ammeter to negative terminal (-) of a dry
cell (see figure)
• Safety instructions for current measurement;
1. Estimate current that required measuring then choose a suitable
ammeter, since each ammeter has different limit of current
 measurement.
2. Be sure that the connection to positive terminal (+) and negative
terminal (-) of ammeter are correct.
3. Do not directly connect ammeter terminals to dry cell terminals.
Since it can damage the meter.

How to measure voltage

The instrument used to measure voltage, difference potential or electromotive force is called
voltmeter.

• Steps for voltage measurement

Connect a small light bulb to a dry cell. A voltmeter is wired in
parallel with the light bulb to measure voltage across the light bulb.
Connect positive terminal (+) of voltmeter to positive terminal (+)
of a dry cell and connect negative terminal (-) of voltmeter to
negative terminal (-) of a dry cell (see figure).
• Safety instructions for measuring voltage;
1. Estimate voltage that required measuring then choose
a suitable voltmeter, since each voltmeter is designed with
the limit of voltage measurement.
2. Be sure that the connecting of positive terminal (+) and negative
terminal (-) of voltmeter are correct.
How to measure resistance
The instrument used to measure resistance is called test meter or multimeter. The multimeter
or test meter is used to make various electrical measurements such as current, voltage and
resistance. It combines the functions of ammeter, voltmeter and ohmmeter.
 • Steps for resistance measurement
Turn the face dial to a position for required measuring,
resistance, then touch both of terminals of multimeter (see
figure 1) and adjust the meter range to 0 Ω. Touch both of
terminals of meter to a resistance and take the reading (see
figure 2).

How Electricity works?

Electric current is the ability to do work. Electric current can be converted to heat, power and
magnetism, to name a few.

Electric current is classified by its functions and three primary types are:

1. Heat and power

2. Electrochemistry
3. Magnetism

1. Heat and power is used to make heat and power.

For example, current-carrying nichrom wire that nichrom wire has a high resistance and
creates heat. This is applied to be component of electric ovens, toasters, electric irons and
light bulbs, etc.
Experiment is made by measuring heat quantity of water by calorimeter. Increase voltage
across wire by the variac and connect ammeter and voltmeter to measure current and
voltage.
Set the variac scale to adjust voltage and current value of nichrom wire and current is passed
through periodically and measure heat quantity from nichrom wire. There are any
indications of voltage and current. If voltage, current and time increase, heat quantity will
also increase. They are expressed by the relation as below.

This is called Joule's law. Heat quantity depends on voltage time current and interval of
time. From Ohm's law, V (Voltage) = I (Current) x R (Resistance) therefore

Heat quantity depends on current squared times resistance and interval of time.

When current is passed through nichrom wire in water, current is converted to heat and
 temperature rises. Work is done by heat generated in an electrical circuit, which is called
Electric power.

Electric power is measured in Watts-hour (Wh) and heat quantity is measured in calories
(Cal).

Work is done by heat generated in an electrical circuit is written in power, which it means
that the rate work is done in a circuit when 1 Amp flows with 1 Volt applied and its unit of
measurement is Watt.

Conclusion

2. Electrochemistry

For example, when current is passed through sodium chloride (NaCl) solution, a chemical
reaction called electrolysis occurs. This is applied to produce electrolysis, galvanizing and
 battery, etc.

Experiment is made by soaking two

platinum (Pt) plates in molten salt. Connect
batteries to two platinum plates, current is
passed through molten salt and produces
chlorine bubbles around positive plate (+)
and hydrogen bubbles around negative plate
(-) since sodium chloride composes of
sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl). When
sodium chloride melts in water, the
elements are separated. Sodium has positive
charges (+), while chlorine has negative
charges (-) and these charges are called
ions. The molten salt has both positive
charges, called anodes, and negative
charges called cathodes. The state of
separated elements is called ionization. If
salt is melted by water, solution is available
ions, called electrolyte solution. And if
current is passed through electrolyte
solution, a chemical reaction known as
electrolysis occurs.
3. Magnetism

The example of this electric work is a current-carrying wire, magnetic lines of flux occur.
This is applied to produce electric motors, electric transformers and tape recorders, etc.
Understanding meaning of magnetism:
What is magnetism?
The compound formula of magnet is Fe3O4. All magnets have two
characteristics. First, they attract and hold iron. Secondary, if free
to move like the compass needle, they will assume a north-south
position. Any materials have these characteristics, they are called
magnet.

The characteristics of magnet are

• Every magnet has two poles, one north pole and one south pole.
• Opposite poles attract each other, while like poles repel each
other.

Electricity and magnetic field

When magnetic needle is placed near electric wire,
which current is passed through, magnetic needle
turns on the direction of current flow (see figure 1
and 2). Therefore, electric current flow also
produces an associated magnetic force or it is said
that electricity is able to produce magnetic field.

When magnetic needle is placed in wire coil with

one loop (see figure) and current is passed through
wire coil, magnetic needle turns on the direction as
shown in above figure. And the directions of
magnetic lines of flux are shown by the arrows.

When magnetic needle is placed in wire coil with

many loops as shown in right figure, then current is
passed through coil. The direction of magnetic lines
of flux parallels wire coil. The characteristics of
magnetic lines of flux like the characteristics of
magnet, but no magnetic pole.
When a current-carrying wire coil is placed near
iron bar, the iron bar move slightly (see figure 1). If
core is placed in a wire coil, the iron bar is attracted
strongly (see figure 2). Because core is a soft iron,
which conducts magnetic lines of force, when
current is passed through wire coil around core, the
core becomes magnetized with high power that is
called electromagnets. This function is widely
applied for using in industries.
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